Последний из Могикан
Chapter 4
Heywardpreparedtocomply,thoughwithstrongdisgustatthenatureoftheofficehewascompelledtoexecute.Eachmoment,however,presseduponhimaconvictionofthecriticalsituationinwhichhehadsufferedhisinvaluabletrusttobeinvolvedthroughhisownconfidence.Thesunhadalreadydisappeared,andthewoods,suddenlydeprivedofhislight,wereassumingaduskyhue,whichkeenlyremindedhimthatthehourthesavageusuallychoseforhismostbarbarousandremorselessactsofvengeanceorhostility,wasspeedilydrawingnear.Stimulatedbyapprehension,heleftthescout,whoimmediatelyenteredintoaloudconversationwiththestrangerthathadsounceremoniouslyenlistedhimselfinthepartyoftravellersthatmorning.InpassinghisgentlercompanionsHeywardutteredafewwordsofencouragement,andwaspleasedtofindthat,thoughfatiguedwiththeexerciseoftheday,theyappearedtoentertainnosuspicionthattheirpresentembarrassmentwasotherthantheresultofaccident.Givingthemreasontobelievehewasmerelyemployedinaconsultationconcerningthefutureroute,hespurredhischarger,anddrewthereinsagain,whentheanimalhadcarriedhimwithinafewyardsoftheplacewherethesullenrunnerstillstood,leaningagainstthetree.
"Youmaysee,Magua,"hesaid,endeavoringtoassumeanairoffreedomandconfidence,"thatthenightisclosingaroundus,andyetwearenonearertoWilliamHenrythanwhenwelefttheencampmentofWebbwiththerisingsun.Youhavemissedtheway,norhaveIbeenmorefortunate.
